Chapter 8
Battle Platform, Ryuk, somewhere in the Hades System
Maiha stood looking out across the system that had become her home for the last thirty years. “Ryuk you got a minute old boy?”

“Always for you my Empress. What has you up at this hour of the night?”

“Ryuk, how many times do I have to tell you just to call me Maiha?” Maiha grunted.

“Until the day you are no longer among us Maiha.” The ancient AI replied with a chuckle. “Now what has you walking the corridors of my bulk at this ungodly hour?”

“The situation in the New Confederate System old friend. I just cannot figure out what the Amazons are up to?” Maiha admitted.

The ancient battle AI took a few seconds before answering. “Maiha, I have spent the last twenty-one seconds analyzing the data coming out of that system.”

The fact that Ryuk took a full twenty-one seconds to analyze something floored Maiha. She knew that the ancient AI was not as fast as the newer battle AIs but he had centuries of experience to draw on. So he was able to compare the past with the future at phenomenal and formidable rates. “What have you come up with old man?”

“At this rate the populations for the planets of New Texas and New Carolina will be in open rebellion against the Amazon High Council and Grand Council shortly.”

“Have you been able to pinpoint the boiling point?”

“Sadly, it will be the final judgement in the Hall of Justice. The Amazon Miners Guild have the financial backing to drag the rightful landowners down. When this happens, those proud people will rise up in defiance refusing to just give up the land they have worked so hard for. They will not step aside and let the miners or the Amazon High Council push them off their land.”

“How bad will it get Ryuk?” Maiha asked in disbelief.

“Remember Sherwood and the Battle for Kelly’s Crossroads? Or the Neo French Cambodia Wars just over ninety years ago? That is how bad it’s going to get Maiha.”

Maiha could not believe her ears. The two most hated times in her life revolved around those two wars and those battles. The fact that Ryuk would even suggest a war of those scales sent chills through her. “Are you sure about that Ryuk?”

“Maiha, in the thirty years plus years we have known each other, I have never lied to you. I may have pulled your leg every now and then, but I have never lied to you on matters of State or Warfare. No matter how it gets sliced this is one shit pie that we are all going to have to take a bite out of.”

“Damn it! Why have the Amazons pushed it to this point? Can’t they see the swamp they’re dragging the Empire into? The blood that will be spilled on both sides is the blood of the Empire.” Maiha was pissed. “How many divisions are in the New Confederate System? Not just Death Dealers but all Empyreal Military.”

“Not counting the one regiment of Death Dealers and one regiment of standard support troops that are currently assigned to the research center we have a total of three Death Dealer Divisions and seven Standard Empyreal Military Divisions in system.”

Maiha thought long and hard about what Ryuk just told her. Ten divisions of Empyreal troops in the New Confederate System. Of those ten, half were support divisions. If things went the way Ryuk predicted, then it would be about an even fight. “And the Amazons’ forces. What are they at?”

“The Amazon Collective has been funneling in more troops secretly over the past several months. The evaluation of their troop strength that your son James gave was woefully under estimated. I would place the Amazon forces closer to ten full combat divisions with full air support.”

“Any idea of where the Amazon Carrier has been hiding or what size?” Maiha asked.

“I have run the calculations a few times Maiha and they all come up the same. There has to be two Super Carrier Class dropships with their battlegroups in that system.”

“What are our assets when it comes to aerial support for the ground troops Ryuk?” This was Maiha’s only real concern in the NCS.

“Nowhere near what the Amazon Collective has Maiha. In truth the aerospace fighter and bomber units on those two planets are woefully inadequate. There is only one Fighter Regiment and one Bomber Regiment. Before you ask there are no truly dedicated Ground Attack Craft. The biggest airborne asset those divisions have is their attack helos and Fire Support APS units.”

“What of the R-n-D center at White Sands? How about those assets?” Maiha asked as she reached into the pocket of her robe. Pulling out a pack of Empire Gold Cigarettes Maiha pulled one out and lit up. Now it was the concern of a mother that filled Maiha’s voice, not that of an Empress.

“Maiha you know that Princess Alison will be pissed off at your smoking in the observatory again.”

“I know, I know. Now tell me what the status is of those two Regiments at the R-n-D center old friend.” Maiha just drew in the rich flavor of the Empire Gold. These and a good bottle of Scotch is her only indulgence.

“Of the two Regiments only, the Death Dealer Regiment is a combat Regiment. As for the Regular Empyreal Military Regiment it is your standard Combat Support Regiment. Maiha those two Regiments would be hard pressed to hold that base if they were attacked. Even with the experimental aerospace fighters that base will be overrun in a matter of hours, Maiha.”

Maiha took a deep drag off her cigarette as she took in this information. Looking out the crystalline dome Maiha knew that Ryuk was most likely correct. A Light Regiment was no match against an attack by Armored Power Suits without some kind of fortifications. That was where the Support Regiment could very well turn the tide. Well dug entrenchments, hardened bunkers, with fortified gun batteries, could turn a simple attack into a bloodbath. For the attackers.

“Do you think James will figure that out in time, Ryuk?”

“Of all your children Maiha, James is the most like yourself. He is just as much a military genius and tactician as you. He is still young this is true. I would give you even odds that he has already spotted the weaknesses surrounding that base. The question is will he have the time to correct the situation.”

Maiha stood there silently smoking her cigarette going over what Ryuk had said about James. All of what he said was true. Of the five children she and Alice shared, James was the most like her. Her twin daughters Ahmie and Ohmie were very much like their aunt Fuyuko. They were in many ways the perfect planetary managers. Jerry was so much like their grandmother Dai Etsu that he joined the family temple. Only her youngest son Richard was like James. While Richard wasn’t the tactical genius that James was, he was by far the better APS pilot.

“Tell me something Ryuk. Those new Strike Eagles are they as good as the research team claims them to be?” Maiha asked between lighting her second cigarette and putting out the first one.

“In the hands of most pilots they are as deadly as advertised. The current test pilot has already made suggestions that have improved their performance immensely.”

Maiha chuckled. “I take it that Flight Lieutenant First Class Cole has pushed the few she has flown beyond their breaking points.”

The rich chuckle of Ryuk’s laughter filled the room. “Maiha that young woman is no mere test pilot. If I didn’t know better, I would swear she was trying to kill herself in her test flights.”

“I know what you mean old boy. If she is anything like her older brother and sister, then she’ll fly every aerospace fighter she is given to its limits. Then beyond. The problem will be finding a fighter that will not fail her skills.” Maiha drew in deeply on her cigarette. As she exhaled Maiha let a small smile play at her lips. “Did you know before her sudden transformation he was already an accomplished pilot at the academy. One so good that her Instructors were pushing to get her a waver for an Omega Class A.I. upgrade.”

“That would explain all the exceptional EVALs in her file. As for finding a fighter that can handle her skills that could be a problem. I have run two-thousand-nine-hundred-eighty-eight simulations for all of the current aerospace fighters in the inventory with Lieutenant Cole as the pilot. All have ended up with the young woman flying the fighter past its flight envelope. I am currently going over multiple configurations of various fighters to find something that will compensate for the exceptional skills of the young woman. So far I have yet to find one that works.”

“Damn. James said that there wasn’t a fighter out there that she couldn’t fly to the breaking point and back.” Maiha had to admire the young Lieutenant’s ability. With real sadness in her voice Maiha returned to the troubles with the Amazons. “Ryuk I know you have analyzed the political and strategic actions of the Amazon Collective over the last thirty years. Why would they push so hard now? Why deviate from what has been for them a proven method of nonviolent conquest? It just doesn’t make any sense. They don’t have to push like this. It’s almost as if they’re trying to force the Empire into a military solution.”

“Maiha, I believe I know what they are trying to do. Only it will not work for them. They do want the Empyreal Military to intervene. Their hope is to draw our Military into a very long and protected war. One that will become extremely unpopular very quickly. That war will allow the Amazon Politicians push for cuts in the Empyreal Military and a return to pre-succession war policies.”

Maiha took a heavy drag off her cigarette while thinking about what that would mean for the Military. Before the last war of succession the majority of the military force was in the hands of the High Families. House Units made up the majority of Planetary Defense Forces and mercenary units were often the preferred military force. The Empyreal Military under Maiha’s guidance was now the primary defense for the Human Empire. That includes the Empyreal Navy, Army, and Marines with the Death Dealers remaining the premier Military Unit.

It had been her reforms that had forced the High Families to reduce their standing forces. For the first ten years of her reign Maiha had been able to bring a peace between the many factions within the High Families. If it had not been for the continued actives of pirates she would have been able to consolidate all the military under Empyreal control. It was those same damned pirates that had allowed the High Families to rebuild their private military forces to include navies. Thanks in part to the Antipiracy Laws passed in Parliament.

Then Ryuk let the other shoe drop. “If my calculations are correct Maiha, the war will also be a three-prong war. Amazons one-side, the citizens of the NCS on the second, and the Empyreal Military stuck in the middle.”

“Can those civilians even mount a defense against the Amazons?”

“Not only can they, but they have the will to do so for far longer than the Amazon Collective believes. These are not your average colonist Maiha. A great many of them trace their ancestry clear back to the American Civil War Confederate States.”

“OH SHIT!” Maiha exclaimed. “You have got to be kidding me?! An enter system of diehard Confederate descendants. Just what I need on my hands. This is going to make Sherwood, and Neo French Cambodia look like a damned beach party!”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand Maiha.”

Maiha sighed. “Between April eighteen-sixty-one and April eighteen-sixty-five the United States of America fought what has to be the bloodiest Civil War in human history for one nation. More than a million and a half men, from both sides, died during those four years. The sad part is the war may have ended after four years, the animosity between the two sides went on for generations.”

“Now I understand why this situation has you so upset. I doubt the idea of there being several former aerospace fighter pilots on those worlds would be of a comfort then.”

“How many former pilots are you talking about, and how many of them are Aces?” Maiha was praying the number was only a handful.

“Between New Texas, and New Carolina, there are eighteen former Empyreal Military Aerospace Fighter Pilots. All are Aces, but only four multiple Aces. Of those four only one is of note. A certain Lieutenant Colonel C.Y. Jäger of the triple six fighter squadron.”

“I wondered where Chuck and his band of misfits went to.” Taking a draw off her cigarette Maiha smirked. “The Unlucky Devils. Some of the meanest and hottest pilots on the stick to ever overfly a battlefield.”

“You know these pilots Maiha?”

“Yeah I know them Ryuk. And they are all crazier than a shithouse rat set on fire. Damn fine bunch of pilots, but a rowdier bunch you’ll be hard to find.” Maiha just chuckled over the last part. Thinking about that group of pilots Maiha extinguished her cigarette. “Ryuk I need to send a message off the books.”

“Ready for dictation Empress. I’ll send it out on the next batch report cycle.”

The ancient AI understood what Maiha needed the moment she said off the books. The message that would be delivered could not be tracked back to her or him. Not even the persons the message was intended for would know who sent it. After five minutes Ryuk compiled the message into a code that only the receiving end would know the answer. Maiha had called in the Right Hand of the Empress.

Terresa Cole’s private quarters, WSRDC, New Texas.

I cannot believe the hangover I have this morning. I reach for the automatic coffee pot and the sweet nectar of the gods it holds. As I make my first cup of the morning I try to recount what I did last night. “Shit what a headache. I only had four beers and two shots last night. When did I become such a light weight?”

‘Terresa, I hate to tell you this. No, I don’t, because you deserve this hangover. You became such a light weight when you underwent the Secondary-Configuration. You’re not the 180lbs, 6ft, strapping young man you were a month ago.’ I really want to pound Lilly just then. The only problem was she was right. This was my fault. I have no one else to blame.

‘Lilly, I don’t remember a whole lot from last night. Did I do anything to embarrass myself? You know something I might have to apologize for?’

‘You just kissed Chief Daily goodnight on the cheek, as you were escorted out of the club by Prince James and your older brother Sylvester. Oh, and you tried to drag the Prince into your room and bed for sex.’

My eyes bulged out of my head hearing this last part and spit coffee across the room at the last comment. I get ready to deny everything Lilly just said until I hear the infernal AI giggling. ‘Damn it Lilly I don’t need this shit!’

‘Yes, you do, Terresa. Besides it’s fun to twist your tit once in a while.’

‘Oh, shut up!’ I stager into the bathroom and strip down. After taking care of bodily needs and a hot shower I head back out to get dressed for the day. I double check my duty schedule and frown. I notice that I got the Charge of Quarters today. “Oh great, just great. Thirty hours of bullshit. Why couldn’t I have a training flight schedule for today. At least then, I would be able to take out my anger on a few ground targets. Oh well nothing for it I guess.”

I also notice that I couldn’t wear my flight suit. The duty uniform for CQ at this base was Class Bs, dress blacks. For the first time I would have to wear the skirt that went with my new dress uniform. In truth it would be the first time since my transformation that I would have to dress as my new sex for real. With some trepidation I slowly dressed for duty. Once dressed I head out for the chow hall to get something to eat and more coffee.

As I cross the officer’s area into the common quad I notice for the first time the feel of air rushing across my nylon encased legs. I have to stop and catch my breath the first time this happens. This simple act has forced me to accept the fact that I am no longer male. “Hell, as far as the rest of the human race is concerned I’m no longer even fracking human. Let alone male.”

‘Terresa calm down. How many times do we have to have this discussion? You’re still very much a human. You’re just a female now. You have to stop fighting with yourself over this fact. Once you do that you can move forward.’

‘Lilly, I know this already! And I have accepted the fact that I’m a woman now. I just a little concerned right now. I don’t remember too much from last night. I’m afraid of what someone might say or have reported about my conduct. If I did something stupid it could get me grounded. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, Terresa I do. As for my comments earlier, you did nothing out of the ordinary. You were a well behaved if more than slightly drunken young officer.’

‘Thank you, Lilly. That puts my mind at ease. Now let’s go get something to eat and more coffee. Maybe a cigarette or two while we’re at it.’ I continued across the quad to the chow hall. As I entered the hall I found a line to sign in and took my place at the end behind a private from one of the support units. The young man turned and looked at me then my rank.

“Step aside, Officer in the line.” He called out then moved to stand next the wall. “Good morning ma’am, after you.”

“Thank you Private.” As I walked pass him and the others to the Headcount I could tell that to these men and women I was nothing more than a pretty female officer. For some reason this made me feel better about myself and my situation. “Have a good day yourself. At ease everyone.”

At the Headcount Desk I signed in and paid my surcharge. The Corporal on duty smiled said ‘good morning, ma’am’ and called down further down the line. “Duty Officer in the line. Make a hole.”

I gave the young woman a smile as I headed towards the actual serving line. Once I had secured my tray I made my way down the line. I was surprised by the selection offered by the cooks. Three egg omelets, eggs over-easy, fried eggs, eggs cooked in every manner possible, fresh bacon, ham steaks, country fried chicken, biscuits and sausage gravy, and the fresh fruit selection was just as amazing. After getting two eggs over-easy, three sausage links, fried apples, and toast, I headed for the drink section. There I was able to fill up on a large glass of orange juice and large coffee. It didn’t take me long to find a table once I had my meal.

When I first sat down to eat I was alone, which was fine by me. That didn’t remain the situation for long. I looked up as a shadow fell across the table to see Captain Heartlow, my immediate superior. “May I join you Lieutenant Cole?”

“Please feel free sir.” I knew that the request was more of a suggestion. I watched as he set his tray down then took the seat across from me. I could tell that something was on the man’s mind by the way he moved and the tone in his voice. “So what can I do for you sir? I know that you rarely eat with the junior pilots?”

“I like that Cole, straight to the point.” He took a drink of his coffee. After setting the cup down he gave a hard look. “I want to know what you were doing palling it up with the Commanding Officer for the Security Force, Major Sylvester Cole. I know for a fact that he has only one sister, and Sylvia is a good friend of mine. Are you his wife?”

I almost spit coffee on the man at hearing this. Thankfully, I’d just swallowed and was able to giggle instead. At the look of displeasure on my CO’s face I knew that I had to explain fast. “Sorry, sir. But your information on the Cole family is severely out of date. I happen to be the Cole twins’ younger sibling. Both Sylvester and Sylvia are my family. I just happened to be the only Claymore in the batch.”

“Sorry, Lieutenant I know for a fact that Sylvester and Sylvia Cole only have a younger brother. A fine young pilot that just last month graduated flight school. Care to try that again?” I sighed as I could tell that Heartlow wasn’t going to accept the truth. He was sure that is was Sylvester’s wife.

“I was their baby brother until my Emergence sir. I went in the tank as Jason Cole and came out Terresa Cole. Before you ask I was finally granted my Second-Gen upgrade shortly after graduation and underwent it before leaving the Academy.” That was the cover story my family General Davenport, and the Prince had come up with.

As I took a bite of my eggs I waited and watched Heartlow. “I see. Thank you, Lieutenant. You have put my mind at ease. You understand the problems that arise when spouses are stationed together.”

That’s when it hit me. The man wasn’t worried about inappropriate behavior between officers, but if I was married to Sylvester. “Well you can put that worry out of your mind sir. I do love my brother and sister, but not in that way. Anything else?”

“No Lieutenant, that was all. When I heard that you were drinking with the Commander for the Security Detachment last night I became concerned that is all.”

I had to give it the man. He was slick. I could tell that he wanted to get to know me better, but not in a way that I cared for. I decided to shut this line of questioning down before it got started. “I can understand your concern sir. You can rest assured that I have no interest in my fellow officers of either sex. I just want to do my duty and be left alone. I’m not looking for a life partner, sir.”

I watched as his face fell at the sound of this. I was right in my assumption about his attentions towards me. I smiled as he realized that he had no chance at getting in my panties anytime soon. “Then I hope you can continue with that wish Lieutenant.”

“I can assure you sir. I will.” I left the warning tone out of my voice, but I could tell that he got the message. His actions proved this.

Standing up he gathered up his tray, coffee mug, pushed in his chair. “Well, then, I hope you have a good day Lieutenant. Oh, by the way sorry for the short notice for CQ Duty. Hanse was supposed to have it, but he plowed in yesterday evening on runway two. The main struts on the nose gear snapped. You were right about the stress points. I just wish that you weren’t. Hanse is going to be laid up for a couple of weeks. I only have one question. How did you know the struts and breaks would fail once they overheated like that?”

I sighed before looked up answering him. “I ran ten simulations along those very lines sir. I knew that sooner or later a dead stick landing would be tested. I didn’t want to be the one to crash nose first into the runway. I still haven’t figured out how to keep that from happening. It has to be something in either the materials or design, sir.”

Heartlow just chuckled. “You know that you don’t get paid to solve the problems we find Lieutenant. That’s what the Brainiac’s are for.”

“That maybe true sir, but it’s my ass on the line when they screw the pooch.” Then I smiled at the man. “And you have to admit that it is a cute ass, sir.”

Heartlow busted out laughing as he knew he had been busted but that I wasn’t going to hold it against him. Holding his tray in one hand Heartlow made a hashmark in the air. “Point to you Lieutenant Cole. Try to enjoy your duty.”

With that he walked off leaving me to finish my breakfast in peace and quiet. After I finished my breakfast I bused my tray and headed for the Charge of Quarters desk. As I stepped outside I lit a cigarette and smoked on my way to duty. I knew that the next thirty-hours was going to be a waste of time. With this mind I decided to relieve the current officer on duty before running back to grab my tablet. I figured I could make a few design changes to my pet project while just sitting around all day at the CQ desk. It didn’t take long to take over for the outgoing duty officer.

After making sure that my Runner had his orders and signing for the Quarters I ran up to my room. There I grabbed my tablet and a notebook to write out my thoughts. After returning to the CQ Desk I sat down and opened the file that Lilly had placed there on the XF-11. For the next four hours I worked on the design with Lilly. When time for lunch rolled around I sent my Runner to chow first. He returned a half hour later with his own tablet. I closed my tablet down and secured it in the desk bottom draw then went to chow.

When I returned I found my Runner missing and an Officer from the JAG Office waiting at the CQ Desk. “Can I help you Captain?”

“Your Runner has already taken care of me, Lieutenant.” I could tell the Judge Advocate General's officer really didn’t want to deal with me. I knew then and there something fishy was going on.

“Sorry sir. But I’m the Charge of Quarters for the day. So, you will answer my questions according to the UCMJ Article seventeen, subsection B, paragraph two. Who are you here to see, and do you have an order from the Base Commanding Provost Marshal?” I knew that the jackass didn’t have the last one, but the first one was more important in my mind.

The Captain sighed and handed over the two very much demanded pieces of paperwork. “I’m here to see Chief Warrant Officer three, Catherine Bellows of the Second of the Seventy-Second armored battalion, Lieutenant. As for the reasons those are on page two of the DD-one-eighteen.”

I flipped to the second page and read. When I saw what the Captain was there for I smiled. This time in relief. They weren’t here to cause problems for me or the personnel in the Quarters but to deliver some good news. “I’m sorry if I have caused you any problems Ma’am.”

This time it was the Captain who sighed then smiled. “No need to apologize Lieutenant. In fact, I wish more of your fellow officers took this duty as serious as you have. I’m just surprised that you knew which article to use. Are you due to report in to the JAG office soon?”

I really smiled at hearing this. “No ma’am. I’m a test pilot here. I just made sure that I knew what regs cover my Duties for the day this morning.”

The Captain chuckled at this admission on my part. “Well done Lieutenant.” He then looked up as Chief Warrant Officer Bellows came down the stairs. “Ah here is the lucky lady now. Chief Bellows it is my proud honor to notify you of your winning of the Galactic Lottery. As of this moment you are eighty-four-million gold credits richer. Congratulations Chief Bellows.”

The woman in question stopped dead in her tracks. The look of disbelief filled her face. “This is some kind of joke right ma’am?”

“I am afraid not Chief. You won the Lottery jackpot. I hope you got your retirement plans figured out.” The Captain was smiling at being able to give good news for a change to someone. The fact that it was the notification for winning the Golden Lottery was a bonus.

Like most soldiers I had dreamed of winning the big Lottery and made dream plans for that highly unlikely event. I watched as the Chief first read the announcement, then the orders that would discharge her from service. Sadly, there was a regulation that prohibited the winners of the Lottery, sudden inheritors of massive fortunes, from serving in the enlisted ranks of the military. I knew that there were some rich assholes among the Officer’s Crops, most of them High Families, or Royalty but not among the enlisted. I watched as the Chief’s shoulders slumped.

“Well shit! I got seven months to go until I reach my twenty. Can I at least finish off my tour?” She asked the Captain.

“You’ll have to take that up with your Commander, Chief. Though I doubt that will be a problem as you are so close to full retirement. Here’s my card if you have any questions or problems with your CO. Have a good day, Chief.” The JAG Captain smiled then left my building. I looked over at Chief Bellows, she turned and walked back upstairs to her room. I could tell that she really didn’t want to leave the service by the way she held her shoulders.

“Damn that has to suck.” I comment out load.

“What do you mean ma’am? I mean wouldn’t you want to win the big one like Chief Bellows, ma’am? To be able to just tell the military to kiss off like that?”

“Private Cutter, there are two types in the service. There are short timers like yourself who are in for the educational and other benefits for starters. By that I mean you’ve spent all morning working on your college courses at no cost to yourself. As far as the military is concerned you’re working towards promotion points. Then there’s the lifers like the Chief there. To them they play the lottery as a joke, never really expecting to win. To them the service is their home. To her leaving the service is going to be hard to take.” I told him honestly.

“What about you ma’am? You a life or short timer?” He asked me.

“That, Private Cutter, is a question yet to be determined.” I chuckled then pointed at his table. “Now what are you studying?”

The town of Nowhere, New Texas frontier. The Black Star Bar and Grill.

The heavy-lift cargo hauler rolled to a stop in front of the local bar. The two-man driver crew stepped down out of the cab. As the two men went inside a second two-man crew climbed into the cab and drove off. The bartender looked at the two that had come inside. “Have a seat, boys. Bobby and Jimmy will have your rig back in an hour. Can I get you anything while you wait?”

The older of the two men smiled. “Two Super Stars. Draft if you got it?”

The old bartender poured the requested beers from the tap. As the bartender was serving the drivers, a woman in her mid to late forties walked through the door. She looked over at the bartender. “Yeah, Mac was that the Richards delivery I just heard roll through town?”

“Yep, sure was Marry. These two boys are the drive-team for the rig.” Mac said as he set the beers in from of the crew.

“Thank god they got through. Old man Richards has been needing that equipment for a month now.” Marry said as she sat down next to the two men holding up her finger to the bartender signaling for a beer. “My usual Mac.”

“Coming right up Marry.” As Mac got the requested beer the older driver turned to Marry.

“Excuse me ma’am but what did you mean by that comment? Is there something you think we need to know about that road we came in on?” The driver asked.

Marry took a drink of her beer before answering. “Nine heavy loads have been highjacked between here and Port Huston. That is in the last seven weeks.”

“May I know how you come by that information ma’am?” The driver asked.

“Marry here is the local Sheriff, boys. If anyone knows about what is going down on that road its her.” Mac told the two men.

“Sorry if I said something wrong Sheriff. I just need to know if going back the way we came is safe. We’re supposed to be carrying a load of cattle for someone by the name of Bancroft. Know where we can find them?”

“Don’t worry about that boys. Bobby and Jim will pickup your next load for you. One of the nice things about having designated local drivers. You get a break while someone else gets you unloaded and reloaded for your return trip.” Marry told them with smile that never really reached her eyes.

The farm of Tom Richards

The heavy hauler pulled through the doors of the super barn and stopped. Even before the two young men could climb down from the cab a team of men were swarming the trailer. Even before their feet touch the ground tiedown chains were already disconnected. By the time they had turned to the owner of the farm heavy lift loaders were taking down the massive containers that were the transports load. The old man walked up to the young men.

“Did they have any idea of what they’re really hauling boys?”

“We doubled checked the rig uncle Tom. I doubt that they do. We didn’t have time to run the scanners over the containers though.” The younger of the two answered.

“Damn it Bobby. We got too much riding on these loads.” Tom Richards turned to the crew unloading the transport. “Double check the containers gents.”

That one command stopped all activity. Ten men ran and pulled out portable scanners. In five minutes work resumed as a tracking device was handed over to Tom. “We caught this in the anti-tank rifle’s container. It is definitely Empyreal. How do you want to take care of it?”

Tom just smirked as he took it from the man. Walking outside to his one of his ranch hands. “Joey, time to give the Empire a Mississippi Boat Ride. Use the Little Catfish River over on the back forty. That should take them about nine to ten hours before they figure out they lost the load.”

“Yes sir.” Was all the ranch hand said as he took off on his speeder. In thirty minutes the tracker would be slowly drifting down the Little Catfish River heading for the Gulf of Auston.

With the ranch hand taking care of the tracker Tim turned to the problem of the two drivers back at the Black Star. Pulling out his portable communicator Tom placed a call to the bar. He waited for Mac to answer. When after the third ring Mac answered Tom just spoke two words and the hung up. “Hot load.”

The Black Star Bar and Grill

Mac looked over at the ringing communicator for the bar and sighed. If Tom was calling this soon it could only mean one thing, trouble. “Black Star, Mac speaking.”

Hearing the code phrase for a tracked load Mac sighed and hung up the phone. “Marry that was the station calling. They need you back there now.”

“Thanks Tom.” Marry stood up and placed a tenner on the countertop. “That should cover my tab Mac. See you later.”

The two drivers never spotted the subtle cues between the old bartender and sheriff. The old bartender moved towards the end of the bar drawing the two men’s attention. While the sheriff pulled her sidearm and stepped up behind them. With two quick shots to the backs of their heads the men died. Mac stepped around the bar to let in six men through the backdoor. With an ease that came from practice the six men cleaned up the two dead bodies and blood faster than expected. The sheriff looked down at her watch and sighed.

“Damn they’re getting faster at that shit, Jerry. Have they been practicing?”

Jerry McGregor owner of the Black Star Bar and Grill shook his head no. “Nope. They haven’t done anything like that Samantha. The only practice they get is from when you put someone down like that.”

Sheriff Samantha Price looked over at Jerry. “I wish I didn’t have to Jerry. You know that I would love to just let those cowboys go rolling out of here.”

“I know Sam, I know. They’re just too much a security risk any more. The last two were outright Amazon spies. I doubt that those two were spies but they saw how we handle cargo that comes into town. That load of weapons is just too damned important to risk. You know that if I hadn’t done what I did Tom would have had his boys do it. The difference would be that Tom’s boys would stake the bodies out for the Empire or Amazons to find along the road. You know what that would mean for us. We’re not ready yet to take on those mercs. Especially those damned Quinsbee Jayhawkers.” Both looked down the road toward the next town that was the current head quarters for the mentioned mercenary unit.

Of all the mercenary units on New Texas the most hated and blood thirsty were the Quinsbee Jayhawkers. In the last six months they had burned out or evicted eighteen families from their farms. The last one came down to a standoff that last for ten days before the Jayhawkers use short range missiles to firebomb the ranch. The problem was bringing charges against the unit. The way the law was written so long as the Jayhawkers were working for the banks, Samantha and the other sheriffs couldn’t bring them up on criminal charges.

It was the actions of units like the Jayhawkers and a few others, that was the driving force behind the arming of civilians. If it had not been for those actions Samantha Price would never condone handing out military grade weapons to civilians. “Right now, Jerry, I’m just glad that we’re not dealing with a unit that has APS support. We may be arming, but Light Infantry weapons aren’t going to stop Armored Power Suits on a tear.”

“You know that, I know that, the only ones that don’t know that are those fools getting ready to go to war with the Amazon Military. This is going to be worse than the War of Northern Aggression in the eighteen-hundreds. Frack, Sam, we’re in the same damn situation. An agricultural based society taking on a manufacturing powerhouse. We have to be out of our damned minds.” Jerry spat out in anger.

Samantha just took a pinch of snuff from the tin in her hand. After working it between cheek and gum Sam spit the first traces of juice into the bar’s spittoon. “I just hope we don’t go down as hard as your ancestors did, Jerry.”

Jerry looked over at the sheriff for their small town and smiled. Most people would never know that hiding under the bright smile, and unassuming size was a retired combat veteran from the last Succession War. With a sweep of her hand Samantha moved the hair from over her ears to reveal her true race. Very few people in the town of Nowhere knew that Samantha was a Wood Elf. And even fewer still knew that she was a Second-Gen Death Dealer. Jerry McGregor was one of the very few true friends Samantha shared her past with.

“I hope like hell you’re right Samantha. But you and I both know that won’t be the case. The moment those jackasses push too hard old man Richards is going to fight back with everything he has. When the banks try to foreclose on just one ranch around here the shit is going to hit the fan.” Jerry sighed and looked around the town sadly. “Right here will be our Fort Summer, and the start of the next bloody Civil War of Northern Aggression.”

The Offices of Still Unlimited Shipping.

Lisa Stills sat back in her chair and stretched. “God what a day. I could really use a stiff drink about now. That and a good smoke.”

“Mommy, you promised me that you would give those up.” Lisa had to smile at her young son sitting just a few feet away. At ten years old the boy was the spitting image of his father. Even after ten years Lisa still found it hard to believe that she was now a mother. Retiring after twenty years of service to the Empress Maiha, Lady Lisa Stills took the buyout as a vet and invested it into a small shipping firm. That was twelve years ago. That firm now had twenty of the newest and fastest Clipper Class dropships and was a growing concern. It was a night of world wind sex with one of her Captains, Lisa showed up pregnant with her son.

That night was ten years ago, and the boy looked a lot like his father. of the many things she had done her life having her little boy was the best thing in her eyes. She may have raised the boy on her own, but that had been her choice. She wasn’t going to make the mistakes her family had. In fact, since she had entered the service of the Empress, Lisa Stills had had no contact with her family. In her eyes that was for the best. “I know I promised to quit Jimmy. And I have. That was just wishful thinking on my part. These quarterly reports are a royal pain in the ass.”

“Well you would know a royal pain if anyone did mommy.” Jimmy smirked up at his mother as he looked over at the pictures on the wall. The ones that were of Lisa and the current Royal Family. Lisa had to chuckle at her son’s play on words.

The sound of an incoming trans-system message brought them both up short. Lisa opened her communication station and found the message. It took her a few seconds to recognize the header codes. It had been over twelve years since anyone had sent her a message with that header coding. Her son Jimmy looked over her shoulder at the message. “Whose it from mom?”

Gone was the playful attitude of a ten-year-old boy. In it’s place was that of a young man ready to face the Fires of Hell with nothing more than a toy water pistol. A lot like some women that Lisa greatly admired. Who were more like sisters to Lisa than her own family. “An old friend Jimmy. Someone I greatly respect and admire.”

Jimmy Stills had always known his mother was once a member of the Royal Guards. In fact, at one time she had been one of the Captains for the Royal Guard and a close personal friend of Empress Maiha. He often dreamed of earning the right to wear the Red Triangle of the Hell Hounds, the Personal Body Guards of the Royal couple. He watched as his mother entered a series of numbers and letters before the message decoded itself on her screen. What he read there made him gasp in surprise.

Hearing her son’s sudden intake of breath Lisa had to hide her smile. With a cough Lisa turned to her son. “Feel like taking a little trip on the Cutty Sark Jimmy?”

“Where are we going mom?” The boy asked in hopes of already knowing the answer to that question.

“To Hades.”

-----tbc-----